“Barbara Voinar is a Yoga Teacher of extraordinary depth and expertise, which is manifested as the most caring of hearts.” — Krishna Das
“Personally I would recommend her as the most Yogic and experienced of teachers I know. Older people especially and those with injuries will find through her a way back to living in their bodies with greater ease and freedom from pain. Younger students may find the challenges of meeting themselves in the practice with the loving kindness of a spiritual mother.” —Angela Farmer
WELCOME
My interest and passion to learn about yoga have provided me with an exciting and fulfilling life journey. I received teaching certifications in the traditions of Siddha, Iyengar, and Anusara Yoga, as well as a Certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists. My hunger to immerse myself in the practices of yoga drew me to live in a spiritual community at the Shree Muktananda Ashram. Years later arriving in Berkeley, I was introduced to the Buddhist Vipassana tradition of Mindfulness and Loving Kindness practices through the teachings of Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg, and later to the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism under the guidance of Rinpoche Anam Thubten.
While living in the upstate NY area, I taught in the state and federal prison systems and community classes. In 1993, a few years after arriving in Berkeley, I co-founded 4th Street Yoga, teaching there for 28 years. Enjoying the experience of teaching multi-level classes and taking great joy in specializing in prenatal yoga. It was a delight to welcome moms and new babies back to their now post-natal class.
Out of my desire to respond to cancer’s unwelcome presence in the community, I created a special class called Healing Yoga, a unique class designed specifically for the comfort and mobility of women undergoing treatment for cancer. Healing Yoga became a sanctuary, a place to gather, to feel safe and accepted among a nurturing community of awesome women.
An enriching aspect of offering yoga is the opportunity I have had to collaborate in teaching retreats and workshops with many gifted teachers: Ram Dass, Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Geoff Gordon, WAH, Sharon Salzberg, Jennifer Berezan, Uma Reed, Silvia Nakkach, Nina Wise and other respected teachers.
“At a loss for not being able to name all the exceptional beings I have practiced yoga within my role as a teacher and their role as a student, I offer my heartfelt gratitude to you for being the finest teachers I could have.”
— Sharon Salzberg
